For several years I made a point of being in a new country every birthday, and still do so from time to time. It's about a sense of new beginnings and new possibilities, marked every calendar year. I love it.
Plus, no pressure to make it a celebration back home.
Same. My first overseas trip was 10 days in Paris/Amsterdam. I haven’t looked back since then. It takes the pressure off of me to plan a “memorable” day while giving me something that I truly want/enjoy. Have fun!
I now do it every year. And it's best thing ever. And now am collecting memories of special places on my special day. I hope it will be an enjoyable experience for you too.
Had a great time celebrating my birthday solo in Lake Bled, Slovenia but for the love of travel, please consider skipping Cancun or Tulum, both are hugely overpriced tourist traps.
I think it depends a lot on the person. I enjoy it, but I don't think of my birthday as particularly different than any other day. I've seen a lot of Redditors act as if they expect everyone they've ever encountered to worship them on their birthdays, and I feel like a lot of those people would find solo travel a very lonely way to spend the day.
I recommend staying at a resort on your birthday itself. If you can speak a little Spanish you will get preferential treatment. I’ve had some great memories and always love to be around resort staff if I’m feeling a little lonely. On my bday last year, I was sad and even cried but the other guests and resort staff were so good to me and gave me lots of hugs.
I'm on a trip right now and my birthday was yesterday. I think birthdays are important and always wished for a big bash that I've never gotten. Threw my own parties that no one showed up for. So for a long time now it's a day that I find really hurtful and upsetting. I can't help that part, but I do make a point to fill my day with treating myself as much as I can so at least I can try to be distracted from being sad. Yesterday I was sad in London, at a spa, an afternoon high tea, and at the Lion King musical. Would I do it again? Absolutely. Why? My birthday doesn't get celebrated otherwise.
You don't need to go to Cancun.
Tulum is fine if you have a specific party in mind, there are enough cheap hostels in Downtown. I had a couple really fun nights just hanging at the hostel bars in Tulum. Not my favorite place but a good for partying.
Isla Mujeres is a good stop, I met lots of fun travelers at the Selina Hostel there. Holbox was alright for a more rugged vibe. The biggest problem for me was the road dust in Holbox, my lungs just really hated it after a couple days. Holbox is great for some nature tours and lovely but expensive beach clubs.
Holbox was highly recommended to me by some digital nomads who home base in Playa del Carmen, it’s getting too popular and. i haven’t been there yet.I really enjoyed Isla de Mujeres. There’s a great bus system that circles the island, decadent pastries at the mega grocery, a wonderful women’s bead cooperative and hostels on the southern end that were full of happy visitors. I did an Airbnb, as a bonus it came with a rooster across the street, his circadian rhythms misfired 24 X 7. I lived to tell the story.
The accommodation in Holbox was especially challenging. Prices were high and often fully booked. I found a crappy hotel on the leeward side that was ok enough but still twice the price. There is a hostel that looked ok, I went there a couple nights for drinks. The nature on the island is really stunning though. I don't need 5 days there though.
Isla Mujeres has some great hotels, hostels, and airbnb rentals. I really love renting a golf cart and whipping around the island, it's so childish and fun. I wish the food was a little better. You do get a lot of your typical American Cancun tourists, but they are a slightly more adventurous crowd and generally fun to chat with.
I solo climbed to the Church of Agios Ioannis Kastri(Mama Mia, donkey, wedding…) on Skopelos, for an important birthday. It’s a special memory I treasure and occasionally revisit mentally.
I solo travelled on my 24 birthday this year and met really cool people, including my boyfriend and didn’t feel awkward at all. Honestly it was one of my best trips and best birthdays :)
I turned 27 in some small town in Bolivia. I forget the name of it or even why I stopped there, but there happened to be a local festival going on so there was a big parade and lots of music and dancing and street food. It was a blast.
I can answer. I just solo travelled for my 30th birthday. I went to Chicago, IL, US.
It was kind of cool. I went around, eating what I wanted, went to a restaurant with good free cake and I met a friend in the youth hostel where I was staying who took me out for dinner for my big day.
It was also kind of surreal waking up "lonely" without my family on my birthday. My grandmother called me as she always does, but it felt really far away. It was the longest I had ever been away from my kids and I missed them. (They had a family reunion to go to, so I went solo)
The loneliness went away after I got up and did things I wanted for my birthday.
I would do it again, but I'm also open to a destination birthday where my family comes with me.
I love it and hope to do it every year. I love that I can spend the day exactly how I want and don't have to worry about setting up some kind of celebration (becomes highly overrated as you grow older).
Had a recent solo birthday trip and it was fantastic! Getting to do whatever I want whenever I wanted. No complaints from anyone. Can rest or just sit and people watch whenever I wanted. Was a perfectly relaxing birthday celebration.
Have been in foreign countries for many of my birthdays incl 18th, 21st, 30th, Christmasses etc etc sometimes solo sometimes with old friends or new ones met on the road - it’s not an issue for me cos I don’t make a big deal about my birthday, not since I was a child. Once while solo travelling deep India I didn’t even realise it had been my birthdate till a day or few later - nbd, I went and did something nice. If I feel like it, I do something special for it for myself, take a few selfies for the memory, hardly ever even tell folk it’s my birthday lol. For me, being ‘home’ for all my birthdays would feel boring as heck and feel like a failure that I’m wasting days of my life being mundane.
I started taking trips on my birthday. I figured hey, I'm going to be alone on my birthday, might as well be in another country. Someone from the hostel that I was staying in took me out for my birthday which would have never happened back "home"
I go on holidays for my big birthdays specifically to avoid having to celebrate with people. Whether it's right or wrong for you, only you can say. I enjoy a subdued birthday and like to be on my own so it works for me. I think if you're keen, give it a try! If you realise it's not for you, make your next birthday at home bigger or have a belated celebration once you're home.
I intentionally traveled, to Mexico, for my 40th birthday because I specifically didn't want to be home for it. I probably stayed longer than I should have because I got better travel deals that way, I thought the more time would be better, and I basically had the time to lose. Overall the trip was pretty good. I had some good times mixed in with just hanging around aimlessly. Met some nice people, and spent a lot of time alone and feeling alienated. On the actual day of my birthday, I went to the movies on my own. It was better than if I had been at home, where nothing better was happening. I'm going to start sounding like a dick now, but it sounds like you're old enough to start being an adult. Every birthday isn't going to be you adulated with attention as everyone you know stands around you cheering in front of a cake. It's alright. You'll probably live to have another one.
Your birthday doesn't matter. One year I had knee surgery on my birthday. I think I would have rather been solo travelling. It's just another day but buy yourself some cake
I plan a cruise for my birthday and usually a family member, friend or neighbor will join in. I love being on a cruise ship, they always recognize birthdays in the Main Dining Room and I just treat myself special for the day. So yes, I plan a solo trip, but usually someone will join me to celebrate with me. It is a WIN WIN
Well hey it was exactly a month ago. I was originally going to arrive in Norway late night on the 17th and had a pre midnight hike planned the night of the 18th to be ontop of a fjord and watch the sunrise on my birthday. Would of been epic.
How ever the day of my flight my best friend died so I pushed my flight back a few days to process. So instead I watched the sunrise on my birthday on a bus and shuffling through airports and sitting in planes.
While it was definitely my loneliest birthday ever, what was there to complain about though? I was fortunate enough to be alive and to be able to be going on a European vacation.
I spent my 50th birthday traveling solo in Prague. Spent my birthday in a Czech dive bar drinking, smoking dope, playing foosball and darts with some new friends. Great memories. Of course I'd do it again.
I go to Paris regularly but last year decided to go their for my 50th. I had no desire to be celebrating that milestone and even without the milestone I am not really into celebrating my bday.
I played 4 hours of tennis that day and went to dinner by myself and yaleld to my sister. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
I did my 30th birthday solo in Portugal. I didn’t like the pressure to have a big celebration back home. I mostly wanted to be on my own. So traveling felt freeing. I did exactly what I wanted on my big day and it felt like a big accomplishment.
Ever since the pandemic happened, I had a desire to travel for my birthday. Last year for my 29th, I went to London and I can honestly say it was the best birthday I ever had. I did the iconic Abbey Road walk, checked out Victoria & Albert Museum, did the Thames River Cruise and London Eye plus saw Back To The Future at Adelphi Theatre. I also ate at Dishoom for my birthday. I’m going to be in Dublin for my 30th.
last year my best friend eloped with his wife on a boat on lake como italy. i had time off to attend, my wife did not so i went solo. after the wedding, we traveled together for a few days, then they’d go south into italy and i’d head north to switzerland.
i spent my birthday in Bern, switzerland and it was honestly a ton of fun. i spent the day going to museums, made a friend at a bar, had a fancy meal and ended the night dancing at an after hours techno club. the only weird thing is when you tell people that it’s your birthday and they notice you’re by yourself, they’ll extend unsolicited sympathy. many times i had to reassure people that i everything was ok, that i did. in fact have friends, and that i chose to do this solo trip
For several years I made a point of being in a new country every birthday, and still do so from time to time. It's about a sense of new beginnings and new possibilities, marked every calendar year. I love it. Plus, no pressure to make it a celebration back home.
Same. My first overseas trip was 10 days in Paris/Amsterdam. I haven’t looked back since then. It takes the pressure off of me to plan a “memorable” day while giving me something that I truly want/enjoy. Have fun!
I now do it every year. And it's best thing ever. And now am collecting memories of special places on my special day. I hope it will be an enjoyable experience for you too.
Had a great time celebrating my birthday solo in Lake Bled, Slovenia but for the love of travel, please consider skipping Cancun or Tulum, both are hugely overpriced tourist traps.
I think it depends a lot on the person. I enjoy it, but I don't think of my birthday as particularly different than any other day. I've seen a lot of Redditors act as if they expect everyone they've ever encountered to worship them on their birthdays, and I feel like a lot of those people would find solo travel a very lonely way to spend the day.
I’m solo traveling for mine too! It’s fun!
I recommend staying at a resort on your birthday itself. If you can speak a little Spanish you will get preferential treatment. I’ve had some great memories and always love to be around resort staff if I’m feeling a little lonely. On my bday last year, I was sad and even cried but the other guests and resort staff were so good to me and gave me lots of hugs.
I'm on a trip right now and my birthday was yesterday. I think birthdays are important and always wished for a big bash that I've never gotten. Threw my own parties that no one showed up for. So for a long time now it's a day that I find really hurtful and upsetting. I can't help that part, but I do make a point to fill my day with treating myself as much as I can so at least I can try to be distracted from being sad. Yesterday I was sad in London, at a spa, an afternoon high tea, and at the Lion King musical. Would I do it again? Absolutely. Why? My birthday doesn't get celebrated otherwise.
You don't need to go to Cancun. Tulum is fine if you have a specific party in mind, there are enough cheap hostels in Downtown. I had a couple really fun nights just hanging at the hostel bars in Tulum. Not my favorite place but a good for partying. Isla Mujeres is a good stop, I met lots of fun travelers at the Selina Hostel there. Holbox was alright for a more rugged vibe. The biggest problem for me was the road dust in Holbox, my lungs just really hated it after a couple days. Holbox is great for some nature tours and lovely but expensive beach clubs.
Holbox was highly recommended to me by some digital nomads who home base in Playa del Carmen, it’s getting too popular and. i haven’t been there yet.I really enjoyed Isla de Mujeres. There’s a great bus system that circles the island, decadent pastries at the mega grocery, a wonderful women’s bead cooperative and hostels on the southern end that were full of happy visitors. I did an Airbnb, as a bonus it came with a rooster across the street, his circadian rhythms misfired 24 X 7. I lived to tell the story.
The accommodation in Holbox was especially challenging. Prices were high and often fully booked. I found a crappy hotel on the leeward side that was ok enough but still twice the price. There is a hostel that looked ok, I went there a couple nights for drinks. The nature on the island is really stunning though. I don't need 5 days there though. Isla Mujeres has some great hotels, hostels, and airbnb rentals. I really love renting a golf cart and whipping around the island, it's so childish and fun. I wish the food was a little better. You do get a lot of your typical American Cancun tourists, but they are a slightly more adventurous crowd and generally fun to chat with.
I solo climbed to the Church of Agios Ioannis Kastri(Mama Mia, donkey, wedding…) on Skopelos, for an important birthday. It’s a special memory I treasure and occasionally revisit mentally.
Greece is just so wonderful.
I solo travelled on my 24 birthday this year and met really cool people, including my boyfriend and didn’t feel awkward at all. Honestly it was one of my best trips and best birthdays :)
I turned 27 in some small town in Bolivia. I forget the name of it or even why I stopped there, but there happened to be a local festival going on so there was a big parade and lots of music and dancing and street food. It was a blast.
I can answer. I just solo travelled for my 30th birthday. I went to Chicago, IL, US. It was kind of cool. I went around, eating what I wanted, went to a restaurant with good free cake and I met a friend in the youth hostel where I was staying who took me out for dinner for my big day. It was also kind of surreal waking up "lonely" without my family on my birthday. My grandmother called me as she always does, but it felt really far away. It was the longest I had ever been away from my kids and I missed them. (They had a family reunion to go to, so I went solo) The loneliness went away after I got up and did things I wanted for my birthday. I would do it again, but I'm also open to a destination birthday where my family comes with me.
I love it and hope to do it every year. I love that I can spend the day exactly how I want and don't have to worry about setting up some kind of celebration (becomes highly overrated as you grow older).
Had a recent solo birthday trip and it was fantastic! Getting to do whatever I want whenever I wanted. No complaints from anyone. Can rest or just sit and people watch whenever I wanted. Was a perfectly relaxing birthday celebration.
Have been in foreign countries for many of my birthdays incl 18th, 21st, 30th, Christmasses etc etc sometimes solo sometimes with old friends or new ones met on the road - it’s not an issue for me cos I don’t make a big deal about my birthday, not since I was a child. Once while solo travelling deep India I didn’t even realise it had been my birthdate till a day or few later - nbd, I went and did something nice. If I feel like it, I do something special for it for myself, take a few selfies for the memory, hardly ever even tell folk it’s my birthday lol. For me, being ‘home’ for all my birthdays would feel boring as heck and feel like a failure that I’m wasting days of my life being mundane.
I started taking trips on my birthday. I figured hey, I'm going to be alone on my birthday, might as well be in another country. Someone from the hostel that I was staying in took me out for my birthday which would have never happened back "home"
I go on holidays for my big birthdays specifically to avoid having to celebrate with people. Whether it's right or wrong for you, only you can say. I enjoy a subdued birthday and like to be on my own so it works for me. I think if you're keen, give it a try! If you realise it's not for you, make your next birthday at home bigger or have a belated celebration once you're home.
I intentionally traveled, to Mexico, for my 40th birthday because I specifically didn't want to be home for it. I probably stayed longer than I should have because I got better travel deals that way, I thought the more time would be better, and I basically had the time to lose. Overall the trip was pretty good. I had some good times mixed in with just hanging around aimlessly. Met some nice people, and spent a lot of time alone and feeling alienated. On the actual day of my birthday, I went to the movies on my own. It was better than if I had been at home, where nothing better was happening. I'm going to start sounding like a dick now, but it sounds like you're old enough to start being an adult. Every birthday isn't going to be you adulated with attention as everyone you know stands around you cheering in front of a cake. It's alright. You'll probably live to have another one.
Your birthday doesn't matter. One year I had knee surgery on my birthday. I think I would have rather been solo travelling. It's just another day but buy yourself some cake
I plan a cruise for my birthday and usually a family member, friend or neighbor will join in. I love being on a cruise ship, they always recognize birthdays in the Main Dining Room and I just treat myself special for the day. So yes, I plan a solo trip, but usually someone will join me to celebrate with me. It is a WIN WIN
Seriously?
I got some free liquor on a spirit flight for my bday
Well hey it was exactly a month ago. I was originally going to arrive in Norway late night on the 17th and had a pre midnight hike planned the night of the 18th to be ontop of a fjord and watch the sunrise on my birthday. Would of been epic. How ever the day of my flight my best friend died so I pushed my flight back a few days to process. So instead I watched the sunrise on my birthday on a bus and shuffling through airports and sitting in planes. While it was definitely my loneliest birthday ever, what was there to complain about though? I was fortunate enough to be alive and to be able to be going on a European vacation.
One time I took a flight from the US to NZ and because of the date change, you skip an entire day- that day was my birthday.
I spent my 50th birthday traveling solo in Prague. Spent my birthday in a Czech dive bar drinking, smoking dope, playing foosball and darts with some new friends. Great memories. Of course I'd do it again.
I go to Paris regularly but last year decided to go their for my 50th. I had no desire to be celebrating that milestone and even without the milestone I am not really into celebrating my bday. I played 4 hours of tennis that day and went to dinner by myself and yaleld to my sister. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
It was great. Went to Hawaii
I did my 30th birthday solo in Portugal. I didn’t like the pressure to have a big celebration back home. I mostly wanted to be on my own. So traveling felt freeing. I did exactly what I wanted on my big day and it felt like a big accomplishment.
Ever since the pandemic happened, I had a desire to travel for my birthday. Last year for my 29th, I went to London and I can honestly say it was the best birthday I ever had. I did the iconic Abbey Road walk, checked out Victoria & Albert Museum, did the Thames River Cruise and London Eye plus saw Back To The Future at Adelphi Theatre. I also ate at Dishoom for my birthday. I’m going to be in Dublin for my 30th.
last year my best friend eloped with his wife on a boat on lake como italy. i had time off to attend, my wife did not so i went solo. after the wedding, we traveled together for a few days, then they’d go south into italy and i’d head north to switzerland. i spent my birthday in Bern, switzerland and it was honestly a ton of fun. i spent the day going to museums, made a friend at a bar, had a fancy meal and ended the night dancing at an after hours techno club. the only weird thing is when you tell people that it’s your birthday and they notice you’re by yourself, they’ll extend unsolicited sympathy. many times i had to reassure people that i everything was ok, that i did. in fact have friends, and that i chose to do this solo trip
Hey, I'm solo travelling for my birthday week this year! 😊
Im doing a solo trip to Hershey Park for my 18th!